The Spiral Staircase (1946)
1946 · Feature film · 80 min · dir. Robert Siodmak
Conflicts that freeze your emotions! Suspense that takes your breath!
- Drama
- film noir
- Horror
Synopsis
The Spiral Staircase is a 1946 American psychological horror film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Dorothy McGuire, George Brent, and Ethel Barrymore. Set over the course of one evening, the film follows a mute young woman in an early-20th century Vermont town who is stalked and terrorized in a rural mansion by a serial killer targeting women with disabilities. Kent Smith, Rhonda Fleming, Gordon Oliver and Elsa Lanchester appear in supporting roles. It was adapted for the screen by Mel…
Synopsis from Wikipedia
Details
- Director
- Robert Siodmak
- Writer
- Ethel Lina White
- Composer
- Roy Webb
- Cinematography
- Nicholas Musuraca
- Studio
- RKO Radio Pictures, Dore Schary Productions, Vanguard Films
- Released
- 1946-01-26
- Running time
- 80 minutes
Cast & crew
Robert Siodmak Director
Gordon Oliver
Rhys Williams
George Brent
Kent Smith
Rhonda Fleming
Sara Allgood
Elsa Lanchester
Ethel Barrymore
Reviews on the Internet Archive
★★★★★ · One scary movie · Dancingdiana · 2024-06-06
It’s June 2024 and in July I will celebrate my 80th birthday. As a kid, I was first introduced to The Spiral Staircase and it’s been terrifying me all these years. That theme, recorded on a theramin with the camera a closeup on the killer’s eye to this day makes me want to hide under the covers. I still love this movie! I must admit, Robert Wise’s The Haunting gave The Spiral Staircase a good run for the money but Staircase still leads the way. Special kudos to Ethel Barrymore. Enjoy!
★★★★ · good film noir - murder mystery · Poohbah70 · 2019-05-29
Decent cast, good script, well-acted, well-paced. Enough confusion is provided regarding the identity of the murderer to make it involving to the end. One of the better movies I've come across on the Internet Archive.
★★★★ · Not to miss, no, no · 20cent · 2020-12-15
The movie is fine. Even more, very well built. The first scene is great art, with movie in the movie. But these are reasonnable reasons. There are others, wich have to do with the metting between "normal" people and the hidden gift on anormality, for the best and for the worst. Realy, IA made me discover Siodmak (also to see, the wonderful "Phantom Lady" ; it was the first time I felt that people who were born before the invention of cinema couldn't live a complete life of artistique emotions and intelligence. Something like before alphabet... I'm glad to be born "after cinema"
Copr. · z.x.study · 2022-12-13
R557096. The Spiral staircase. By R K O Radio Pictures, Inc. 9 reels. (C) 31Dec45; L123. American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. (PWH); 13Aug73; R557096.
